Virtual Grey Cup Challenge, Week 19

CFL Talk
1

Here we are in the final week of the regular season. The top eight will qualify to continue after this week, but since there are still four games left, a lot of people are still in the running, so don't give up yet. Also, just like in the real CFL, there are player awards at the end of the season, and you don't need to be one of the top participants to earn one of those.

The standings are posted here.

Here are the games for Week 19:
Edmonton @ B.C.
Montreal @ Toronto
Calgary @ Saskatchewan
Hamilton @ Winnipeg

Pick the teams you think will win in a reply to this thread. You can elaborate if you want, but please make it easy for me to see at a glance which teams you are picking to win.
Picks MUST be made PRIOR to the scheduled kickoff in order to be considered for a game.
To change your pick prior to a game's scheduled kickoff, POST ANOTHER REPLY to the same thread. Please don't EDIT your picks once you have made them.
You can view a more complete list of all the rules here.

Good luck!

2

Hey, what do you know about that? Tied for first going into the final week of the season. Who'd have thunk it?

Anyway, now's my chance to blow it.

Edmonton @ B.C.: B.C. has played some close games against some good teams, and as much as I hate to admit it, it looks like the old Casey Printers may be back. Though it would give me a twinge of evil joy to have him sit out the playoffs while the Cats advance, I really think they are on the verge of winning one. Edmonton's win over Toronto proved less about the Eskimos than it did about the ineptitude of the Argonauts; the Esks, all things considered, are not a very good team. Lions by 4.

Montreal @ Toronto: The schedule makers unwittingly struck gold when putting together the last week of the season, with three of four games having serious playoff implications. Unfortunately, for that to happen, you almost always have to have two teams play with nothing to play for: one because they long ago cemented their playoff position, the other because they were long ago eliminated. So it is here, as the worst team in the CFL becomes the final victim of the class of the CFL. Who will dress and who will not, for either team, isn't even really an issue. In truth, Montreal's equipment managers could play this game and come out with a W. Als by a zillion.

Calgary @ Saskatchewan: The winner of this game hosts the western final, so they both have an equal amount to play for. Unfortunately for Calgary, the game is in Regina, where the Riders are 5-3, while the Stamps are 4-4 on the road. Tough to make a call here, but in those cases it's usually not a bad idea to go with the home team. Riders by 1.

Hamilton @ Winnipeg: The last game of the year has the greatest impact on the playoffs: a win gives the Bombers the Eastern semi-final at home, while a loss or a tie gives them a nice comfy seat in front of the TV. Canad Inns Stadium has hardly been a fortress for the Bombers, where they've lost 4 of 8; however, the Ticats are hardly road warriors, winning just 2 games away from Ivor Wynne. Winnipeg's loss to Montreal wasn't so much a reminder of who they are, but of how powerful Montreal is. But Hamilton is playing their best football of the season these past three weeks, and has hit their stride at exactly the right time. The Bombers will have to wait until next year. Cats by 6.

3

Edmonton @ BC = BC by 3
Montreal @ Toronto = Montreal by 17
Calgary @ Saskatchewan = Saskatchewan by 3
Hamilton @ Winnipeg = Hamilton by 4

4

BC
Montreal
Sask
Hamilton

5

B.C. - Edmonton is'nt looking great and with another week for players to heal, we should have a few more people back
Montreal - Easy pick
Saskatchewan - Home field advantage but neither is looking that great right now
Hamilton - Hamliton is improving and Winterpeg looked awful today

Damn, I won't win it, but fingers crossed for one last good week of picks!

6

Edmonton @ B.C.
Montreal @ Toronto
Calgary @ Saskatchewan
Hamilton @ Winnipeg

Sets up an interesting final week, I think my playoff streak of 1 year will end though :frowning:

7

BC
Montreal
Riders
Winnipeg

8

After gambling against the odds last week and going 2-2, I'm sticking with more logical choices (IMO) this week.

BC
Montréal
Saskatchewan
Hamilton

9

Pretty much out of it, so gotta play the underdogs:

Edm
Tor
Cal
Wpg

Thanks as always for running this BD. Hope you win it all this year. :thup:

10

My picks for week 19:

BC
Montreal
Saskatchewan
Hamilton

11

Edmonton
Montreal
Calgary
Winnipeg

Thanks!

12

Edmonton :stuck_out_tongue:
Toronto :lol:
Calgary :rockin:
Winnipeg :twisted:

13

Whoo Hoo! Moved up to 61st after a 3-1 week, and was a last play field goal from a perfect week. This week is going to be challenging with all the meaningful games being close and could go either way...

B.C. (While B.C. has about 5 wins more than I thought they would have, Edmonton has about 4 more wins then they should have. Edmonton is the second worse team in the league, B.C. should take it, unless the teams collude for a tie.)

Consequence: B.C. and Hamilton secure playoff spots

Montreal (Best team vs. worst team. Should be easy unless the Als third stringers are the cheerleaders....)

Consequence: Er...ah...yeah, no there isn't one...

Saskatchewan (Despite the beatdown last week at the hands of Hamilton, they are still the West's offensive juggernaut and Calgary's offense struggles too frequently to out duel the Riders)

Consequence: Saskatchewan finishes first, Calgary second, B.C. third

Which leaves....

Hamilton (Winnipeg, when they are on, is as good as any team in this league, but Hamilton is superheating at the exact right time. Should be a classic game.)

Consequence: Hamilton secures second in the East, Edmonton backs into the crossover, and Bomber's fans are left dreaming about what could have been

14

Edmonton
Montreal
Saskatchewan
Hamilton

15

Edmonton
Montreal
Saskatchewan
Winnipeg

16

BC
Montreal
Saskatchewan
Hamilton

17

Big Dave:

  Finally a perfect week last week, but it was a little too late for making the playoffs.  However two perfect weeks in a row will make me come back next year even hungrier to do really well.  Here are my picks for week #19.

  1. Edmonton @ BC Lions- They have the same record, and are playing for third place and a playoff spot in the West, but I think the teams are not really as equal as their records indicate. The Eskimos can't seem to stop anyone with their defense and BC seems to be able to. Casey Printers has played well the last two weeks (except for that interception two weeks ago), and with Geroy Simon and Martell Mallett, the Lions have too much firepower for the Eskimos. I'm taking the BC Lions by 6 points.

  2. Montreal @ Toronto- An unimportant game that only serves to end the suffering for Toronto when it's over. Anthony Calvillo will probably play about a half, just to stay sharp for the East Final two weeks from now. Other players will play a half or less for Montreal, but it won't matter because Montreal will win with whoever they put out there against the Argos. I do feel sorry for the Argos, I wish they were better but this will just be another loss for them. I'm taking Montreal by 20 points.

  3. Calgary @ Saskatchewan- The toughest game of the final week to pick, since the teams are even, and both are pretty strong defensively. They tied the last time in Calgary and the thought of another tie is possible. I like both teams and and can make a case for each one, but in a close game if you are unsure of who to pick, it always a good strategy to go with the home team. I'm taking Saskatchewan by 3 points.

  4. Hamilton @ Winnipeg- Hamilton has been the feel good story of the 2009 CFL season, after the last few season being so bad for them. I think they realize this, and with Kevin Glenn visiting his former team when he's playing well, he's so motivated to show them they made a huge mistake letting him go. Hamilton wins in a hard fought, close game that gets them a home playoff game and the Blue Bombers a trip to the sidelines. I'm taking Hamilton by 5 points.

    Thanks again Big Dave for wonderful season, and I'll pick the playoffs games even though I'm not in the playoffs and they won't count in the standings.

18

Hopefully another 4-0 week;

Edmonton by 8 over Lions
Montreal by 13 over Toronto
Sask. by 5 over Calgary
Hamilton by 11 over Winnipeg

19

B.C.
Montreal
Saskatchewan
Winnipeg

20

B.C.
Calgary
Montreal
Hamilton